2025 PCA-GGR & GGLC Novice Car Control Clinic

We are Excited to Announce Our Novice Car Control Clinic on Saturday, April 26, 2025 @ Alameda Point NAS sponsored by Porsche Redwood City

This event is hosted by Porsche Club of America - Golden Gate Region (PCA-GGR) and Golden Gate Lotus Club (GGLC) for drivers with little or no sport driving experience that are interested in learning how to get the best performance from their cars in the context of a welcoming, collaborative, supportive, fun, safe and non-competitive Autocrossing Experience.

• The Student Registration Fee for this event is $130.  A $20 discount will be offered to PCA and GGLC club member Students.  Those Students will also get priority for registration, but non-member Students are also most welcome! 
• Registration closes at midnight on Monday, April 21st or when the initial planned limit of 60 students is reached.  Register early to secure your spot! 
• Student registrations beyond the initial 60 limit will be waitlisted in case of cancellations or a possible small increase in the number allowed registrations, depending on the availability of Instructors.
• Instructors are strongly encouraged to register immediately so we can maximize the number of students we can accommodate. 
• All registrations will be confirmed on Tuesday, April 22nd.
• The event site is located within a restricted / gated area of Alameda Point NAS on the former Alameda Naval Air Station (NAS) property.  Past attendees have greatly appreciated the surface quality and central proximity of this site in the Bay Area, the spectacular views of San Francisco and the Port of Oakland, and the proximity of several friendly places to relax, socialize and enjoy good food after the event.     
• This is an all-day event.
• Lunch and bottled water will be provided by the clubs for the Students and Instructors.   
• This is a NON-TIMED educational clinic event – no live timing will be available.    
• Information on PCA-GGR Autocross can be found at:  PCA-GGR Autocross Website
• Information on GGLC Autocross can be found at:  Golden Gate Lotus Club

Event Schedule (tentative, subject to adjustment):

• 6:45 am: Gate Opens.  All registered participants and any guests must check-in at the gate prior to site entry.
• 6:45 - 7:30 am sharp:
  • Time window to get in through the security access gate.
  • Please leave ample time to get parked, empty and prepare your car for the day.
• 7:00 - 7:45 am: Car Preparation and Tech
  • All Student cars are parked in paddock area, emptied of all loose items, and cars / helmets are safety-checked by assigned Tech Inspectors (Instructors). 
  • Students tape 8” high car numbers on the doors on both sides of their cars using high contrast painter’s tape readily visible from a 75-foot distance.
  • Every Student will select a unique car number as part of the MSR Registration process (from a pool of numbers allocated only for this event.)
  • Car numbers are not required for cars used only by Instructors.    
• 7:30 - 8:00 am:
  • Students and Instructors get their badges / meet & greet at the registration area.
  • Students and Instructors review morning exercise sequence (back of badges).
• 8:00 am: Security Gate is Closed for the Day Until Event End
• 8:00 - 8:30 am: Mandatory Driving Exercise Orientation Meeting and Safety Briefing
  • All Students / Instructors promptly attend the event overview and morning safety briefing in the registration area.
  • We are excited that Connie Lu will serve as Chief Instructor for this event.
• 8:30 - 12:00 pm: Morning Driving Experiences
  • First Experience – Students and Instructors note their pre-assigned subgroup (e.g., G1A, G2A, G1B, G2B, G1C or G2C – back of name badge).  Students promptly get their cars to the grid (staging) area for their First Experience and link up with their Instructors.  Assigned Lead Instructors direct the exercise processes.
    • G1A & G2A to grid area for Slalom
    • G1B & G2B to grid area for Braking & Turning
    • G1C & G2C to grid area for Skid Pad
  • Second Experience – Students move and grid cars for their Second Experience.
    • G1C & G2C to grid area for Slalom
    • G1A & G2A to grid area for Braking & Turning
    • G1B & G2B to grid area for Skid Pad
  • Third Experience – Students move and grid cars for their Third Experience.
    • G1B & G2B at grid area for Slalom
    • G1C & G2C at grid area for Braking & Turning
    • G1A & G2A at grid area for Skid Pad
  • At completion of rotations through all three Experiences:
    • Group 2 Students (e.g., subgroups G2A, G2B and G2C) move their cars to the grid for the afternoon course.  Leave helmets in the cars.
    • Group 1 Students (e.g., subgroups G1A, G1B, and G1C) return their cars to the paddock.  Leave helmets in the cars.
• 12:00 - 12:30 pm: Lunch Break
  • Sandwiches from TOGOs and bottled water are available in the registration area.
  • Students / Instructors promptly regroup at registration for afternoon course walk.
• 12:30 - 12:50 pm: Mandatory Afternoon Course Orientation and Safety Briefing
  • All Students / Instructors promptly attend Course Work and Safety Briefing in the registration area.
• 12:50 - 1:20 pm: All Students / Instructors Walk Afternoon Course
  • Students link up with Instructors to walk the course and discuss driving strategies. 
• 1:20 - 2:45 pm: Group 2 Students Run & Group 1 Students Work Afternoon Course
  • Group 2 Students with their Instructors promptly get in their cars on the starting grid and run the course in turn – follow directions of Instructor and Starter.  Students drive on the intended course line and always steer well clear of course workers – Prioritize Safety and Learning.  Instructors actively advise during and debrief after Student runs.
  • Group 1 Students promptly check in at registration for their work assignments and then quickly get to their assigned work locations on course, stand off the course in safe areas away from the anticipated driving line of on-coming cars, and when safe, quickly run out to reset hit cones and return to your off-course work location.  Student holding one Red Flag assigned to every work location signals (waves red flag) to oncoming drivers to Stop, if necessary, Prioritizing Safety, per instructions during the afternoon course safety briefing.
• 2:45 - 4:20 pm: Group 1 Students Run & Group 2 Students Work Afternoon Course
  • Group 1 Students with their Instructors promptly get in their cars on the starting grid and run the course in turn – follow directions of Instructor and Starter.  Students drive on the intended course line and always steer well clear of course workers – Prioritize Safety and Learning.  Instructors actively advise during and debrief after Student runs.
  • Group 2 Students promptly return their cars to the paddock, promptly check in at registration for their work assignments, and then quickly get to their assigned work locations on course, stand off course in safe areas away from the anticipated driving line of on-coming cars, and when safe, quickly run out to reset hit cones and return to your off-course location.  Student holding one Red Flag assigned to every work location signals (waves red flag) to oncoming drivers to Stop, if necessary, Prioritizing Safety, per instructions during the afternoon course safety briefing. 
• 4:20 - 5:20 pm: Instructor Fun Runs with Interested Students as Passengers
  • Instructors opting to do Fun Runs stage their cars in a single-file line leading up the course Start Line. 
  • Interested Students (with helmets) gather in safe areas near the staging line and on an ad hoc basis join Instructors as single passengers in Instructor cars.  Student / Instructor pairs from earlier in the day should feel free to pair up. 
  • Instructors follow the Starter’s directions, run the course, and sequence back in the staging line – for 2-3 runs max or until time is called. 
  • Instructors – There will be few, if any, course workers for Fun Runs.  Prioritize leaving cones standing while showing Students how the course can be run.
• 5:20 - 6:00 pm: Cleanup After the Day and on to ad hoc Socializing at Local Venues
  • Everyone involved in planning, coordinating and instructing in this event is a committed volunteer.  Participant assistance in packing up and preparing for what is planned for the next day will be greatly appreciated. 

What to bring:

• Painter's tape (1-2” wide) in a color that contrasts well with the paint on your car that you will use to tape on 8” high car numbers on the car doors (both sides) that will stay on in the wind and be visible from a 75' distance.  Every Student will have a unique car number (selected by each Student on MSR registration process).  For Students sharing a car place the two numbers above /below one another on the car doors. 
• Sunscreen, hat, layers for cooler mornings and warm afternoons.  Avoid red outer clothing. 
• Folding chair for lunch. 

Please Note: 

• It is every Driver’s responsibility to bring a safe car to the event.  In preparation before the event, please self-confirm that your car and helmet meet the following standards PCA Autocross Safety Inspection Checklist
• HELMETS ARE REQUIRED with a 2010 or newer Snell certification.  If you do not own a helmet, please make every effort to borrow one from a friend.  Only a small number of loaner helmets will be available on site on a first-come first-served basis, and loaner helmets may require sharing among Students.  A driver’s license will be held to ensure return of loaner helmets.   
• After entry through the security gate, all Students and Instructors should park in the designated paddock areas (pull or back in, side-by-side, leaving 4+ feet between cars to open doors) and immediately empty cars of all loose items (place loose items on ground out of the way of car movement in/out of the paddock area).
• Students immediately put 8” tall car numbers on the doors on both sides of their cars using high contrast painter’s tape easily visible from a 75- foot distance.  Every Student will have a unique car number (selected by each Student on MSR registration process).  For Students sharing a car place the two numbers above / below one another on the car doors.  Students sharing cars should put an extra piece of painter’s tape of sufficient length on the car door during morning car prep – that extra tape can be used during the autocross sessions to ‘cross-out’ the digits of the one of two car numbers not relevant for that session. 
• Student cars / helmets will be safety-checked by assigned Tech Inspectors (Instructors) who also confirm the adequacy / visibility of taped-on car numbers.
• Car numbers are not required for cars used only by Instructors.  The presence of any permanent numbers on an Instructor’s car is fine. 
• All Students MUST WORK at an assigned worker position during the afternoon autocross course driving portion of the event.  Worker positions will require standing on pavement for at least 1-1/2 hours.  Dress appropriately with comfortable shoes suitable for driving, standing and running to reset cones that are hit during the autocross.
• No drones are allowed.
• No pets are allowed.
• No Alcohol, Drugs or Firearms permitted!!
• For questions, contact the PCA-GGR Autocross Director at autocross@pca-ggr.org